Abstract
Among seven human hepatitis viruses (A to E, G and TT virus), hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are able to persist in the host for years and principally contribute to the establishment of chronic hepatitis. During the course of persistent infection, continuous intrahepatic inflammation maintains a cycle of liver cell destruction and regeneration that often terminates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While the expression and retention of viral proteins in hepatocytes may influence the severity and progression of liver disease, the mechanisms of liver injury in viral hepatistis are defined to be due not to the direct cytopathic effects of viruses, but to the host immune response to viral proteins expressed by infected hepatocytes. In the process of liver injury, hepatocellular death (apoptosis) induced by the proapoptotic molecules of T cells activated following antigen recognition triggers a cascade of antigen nonspecific effector systems and causes necroinflammatory disease. Accordingly, the regulation of the immune response, e.g., via the cell death pathways, in chronically infected patients should prevent the development of HCC.
Keywords: viral hepatitis, hepatitis viruses, hepatitis b, hepatocellular carcinoma
Current Molecular Medicine
Title: Mechanisms of Viral Hepatitis Induced Liver Injury
Volume: 3 Issue: 6
Author(s): Yasunari Nakamoto and Shuichi Kaneko
Affiliation:
Keywords: viral hepatitis, hepatitis viruses, hepatitis b, hepatocellular carcinoma
Abstract: Among seven human hepatitis viruses (A to E, G and TT virus), hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are able to persist in the host for years and principally contribute to the establishment of chronic hepatitis. During the course of persistent infection, continuous intrahepatic inflammation maintains a cycle of liver cell destruction and regeneration that often terminates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While the expression and retention of viral proteins in hepatocytes may influence the severity and progression of liver disease, the mechanisms of liver injury in viral hepatistis are defined to be due not to the direct cytopathic effects of viruses, but to the host immune response to viral proteins expressed by infected hepatocytes. In the process of liver injury, hepatocellular death (apoptosis) induced by the proapoptotic molecules of T cells activated following antigen recognition triggers a cascade of antigen nonspecific effector systems and causes necroinflammatory disease. Accordingly, the regulation of the immune response, e.g., via the cell death pathways, in chronically infected patients should prevent the development of HCC.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Nakamoto Yasunari and Kaneko Shuichi, Mechanisms of Viral Hepatitis Induced Liver Injury, Current Molecular Medicine 2003; 3 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524033479591
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524033479591 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Thromboprophylaxis in Medical Patients: An Update
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Risk Factors for Lung Cancer in Never Smokers: A Recent Review Including Genetics
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Therapeutic Implications of Immune-endocrine Interactions in the Critically Ill Patients
Current Drug Targets - Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders Recent Knowledge and New Pharmaceutical Products in Potential Alleviation of Endometriosis
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Proteasome Inhibitors and Modulators of Angiogenesis in Multiple Myeloma
Current Medicinal Chemistry Oral Controlled Delivery of Natural Compounds Using Food-Grade Polymer Microparticles
Current Nutraceuticals LC/MS/MS Profiling of Tissue Oxysterols and its Application in Dextran Sodium Sulphate Induced Mouse Colitis Models
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Studying the Human Gut Microbiota in the Trans-Omics Era - Focus on Metagenomics and Metabonomics
Current Pharmaceutical Design Management of Vaginal Cancer
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Autoimmune Pancreatitis and Diagnostic Criteria
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Chemokines and Their Receptors: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Bone Cancer Pain
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis in the Proteomics Era
Current Bioinformatics Identification of Novel Anti-inflammatory Agents from Ayurvedic Medicine for Prevention of Chronic Diseases: “Reverse Pharmacology” and “Bedside to Bench” Approach
Current Drug Targets Congenital Choledochal Malformation – Current Concepts and Classification
Current Pediatric Reviews Novel Strategies and Tools for Enhanced Sensitivity in Routine Biomolecule Analytics
Current Pharmaceutical Analysis Studying Interactions of Drugs with Cell Membrane Nutrient Transporters: New Frontiers of Proteoliposome Nanotechnology
Current Pharmaceutical Design A Review on the Role of Phytosterols: New Insights Into Cardiovascular Risk
Current Pharmaceutical Design Skeletal Effects of Drugs to Treat Cancer
Current Drug Safety Modulation of the Rho/ROCK Pathway in Heart and Lung after Thorax Irradiation Reveals Targets to Improve Normal Tissue Toxicity
Current Drug Targets Evaluation of Anticancer, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of a Medicinally Treasured Fern Tectaria coadunata with its Phytoconstituents Analysis by HR-LCMS
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry